(19)
(11) EP 1 346 807 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
09.11.2005 Bulletin 2005/45

(43) Date of publication A2:
24.09.2003 Bulletin 2003/39

(21) Application number: 03076431.0

(22) Date of filing: 09.06.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B29C 31/00, B29C 37/00
// B29L11/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 10.06.1994 US 258267

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
95303993.0 / 0688648

(71) Applicant: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Jacksonville, FL 33256 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Lust, Victor
    Orange Park, Florida 32065 (US)
  • Beaton, Stephen Robert
    Neptune Beach, Florida 32266 (US)
  • Dagobert, Henri Armand
    Jacksonville, Florida 32217 (US)
  • Parnell, Phillip King
    Jacksonville, Florida 32258 (US)
  • Walker, Craig William
    Jacksonville, Florida 32224 (US)
  • Wang, Daniel Tsu-Fang
    Jacksonville, Florida 32225 (US)

(74) Representative: Mercer, Christopher Paul et al
Carpmaels & Ransford 43, Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2RA
London WC1A 2RA (GB)

   


(54) Apparatus for removing and transporting articles from molds


(57) Apparatus for removing and transporting ophthalmic lens mold sections from a mold, and generally comprising first, second, and third assemblies. The first assembly removes the lens mold sections from the mold and transports the lens mold sections to a first location, the second assembly receives the lens mold sections from the first assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a second location, and the third assembly receives the lens mold sections from the second assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a third location. Preferably, the first assembly includes a hand to receive the lens mold sections from the mold and to releasably hold the lens mold sections, and a support subassembly connected to the hand to support the hand and to move the hand between the mold and the first location. The second assembly preferably includes a support frame, a platform to receive the lens mold sections from the first assembly and supported by the support frame for movement between the first and second locations, and moving means for moving the platform along the support frame and between these first and second locations. The preferred design of the third assembly includes a transport subassembly and a support column. The transport subassembly receives the lens mold sections from the second assembly, releasably holds those lens mold sections, and carries the lens mold sections to the third location; and the support column supports the transport subassembly for movement between the second and third locations.






Search report